2007 International Conference on Microelectronic Systems
Education
Dr. Stewart Tansley, Microsoft External Research Program Manager
Title: Trends in Embedded Systems -- A Microsoft Perspective
Abstract:
A poster on my office door declares, "98% of all CPUs shipped today are
destined for devices"; I declare, Embedded Systems are one of the most
exciting areas in contemporary computer systems engineering.
Microsoft has addressed this field, not only with research activities
where I am focused, but in a wide range of products from the powerhouse
Xbox 360 game console, through the increasingly ubiquitous Windows Mobile PDAs
and Smartphones, to the diminutive MSN Direct watch and its cousin devices.
We are also well-known for our hardware devices such as mice, keyboards and
other input devices -- all of which are embedded systems in their own right.
For third party device manufacturers, we provide a rich range of platform
technologies in the Windows Embedded family. Last but not least, in December 2006
we released the Microsoft Robotics Studio, with a view to helping the birth
of a new generation of intelligent embedded machines. My talk will aim
to provide a personal perspective on Microsoft's interests in this vast
and exciting field, with a view to suggesting some implications on the
teaching of such technologies to prepare the next generation of engineers.
Bio:
Dr. Stewart Tansley is a Program Manager in External Research & Programs at
Microsoft Research, where he is responsible for Robotics and Embedded Systems.
Prior to joining Microsoft in 2001, Stewart spent 13 years in the telecoms industry.
He achieved his PhD in Artificial Intelligence applied to Engineering,
from the University of Technology, Loughborough, UK, in 1989.